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Strawberry Cheesecake

Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 125 g/4½oz unsalted butter
  • 250 g/9oz digestive biscuits
  • 3 eggs and 2 egg yolks at room temperature
  • 1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla paste
  • 900 g/2lb cream cheese at room temperature
  • 100 g/7oz golden caster sugar
  • 300 ml/½ pint full-fat crème fraîche
  • 200 g/7oz strawberries
  • 25 g/1oz icing sugar

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over a gentle heat.
  • Brush a little of the melted butter around the base and sides of a 23cm/9in springform tin, then line the base with a circle of baking parchment.
  • Put the biscuits into a large bag, squeeze out the air and seal the top.
  • Use a rolling pin to crush the biscuits to fine crumbs or use a food processor.
  • Stir the crumbs into the melted butter until completely combined.
  • Press the crumbs into the tin compacting as much as you can.
  • Put into the fridge to firm up while you make the cheesecake.
  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
  • Add seeds from vanilla pod (or paste) to mixing bowl with the cream cheese.
  • Beat the cheese and vanilla together until smooth.
  • Add the sugar, then beat again till smooth.
  • Now add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, followed by half of the crème fraîche.
  • When the base is well chilled, wrap the outside of the tin in two sheets of wide foil.
  • Ensure that the foil covers the sides of the tin more than halfway, then sit the wrapped tin in a deep roasting tin.
  • Spoon in the cheesecake filling and smooth the top.
  • Pour the hot water into the roasting tin around the cheesecake so that it comes halfway up the sides.
  • Bake for 10 minutes at 180C/350F/Gas 4, then turn the oven down to 140C/275F/Gas 1 and cook for another 40-50 minutes until the cheesecake is set, It should wobble slightly in the middle.
  • When cool, place in the fridge.
  • Place half of the strawberries into a food processor or blender, add the icing sugar then whizz until smooth. Slice the remaining strawberries and set aside.
  • Remove cheesecake from the fridge, around half an hour before eating.
  • Spread the remaining crème fraîche over the surface of the cheesecake.
  • Decorate the top with the sliced strawberries and sauce.
Keyword cake, cheesecake, dessert, pudding